Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1887-10-04

81 have plan; II is so wild and strangI
that do not want to say anything about it
even to you, until see whether or no chr
carry it out. beg of you to give me letter
| Of the most earnest kind 10 one OF you
friends In tho exchange who knows Luversan
1t Is necessary that the friend to whom yoV
shall send me shall repose unlimited confidence
| In me.n
! Tristot gave him letter to banker NJ
| Andrimaud, saying
Whatever you ask OF him he will don
When ho presented himself at the banker
house the latter received Roger with extreme
consideration, and asked in what manner Ia
could servo him.
se'What nsk 10 very simple affair, as fai
as 1t appears on the surface. You know 6
broker by the name Of LuversanT'
"Yes.n
Enough to bring me into contact with hin
sociallyp nH
Eyes; will give bachelors dinner ant
invite him here, IL that will suit you, mex
Monday at IN r.." 3D.
Tho dinner was given. Luversan was there
as also was Roger, and the acquaintance wal
made. The two men were polite to eacl
other, but there was nothing more than the
ordinary exchange of courtesies. Roger
watched Luversan attentively. us he the
assassin he thought
After dinner the guests began general con
versation, and IAroque talked freely OF biz
enormous fortune, which he had made by hi
inventions. The banker, instructed by Roger
what part to take, had introduced him as the
millionaire partner Of an extremely large
house in America.
| Luversan was far from suspecting that
this man could be Laroque. Indeed, he had
almost forgotten his very existence, after he
had heard Of Rogers supposed tragic dc th.
| He did not appear to take much interest in
| Forneys stories about his fabulous wealth,
yet he thought
"This man is rich and an imbecile. He
knows nothing Of Paris. He Is like all the
great savants and inventors, no more than IA
big baby. He may be Of great use to me il /
manage him right"
Roger read his thought and ray of glad
ness penetrated his heart.
AT last" said he, "as lastl'
Laroque and Luversan met every day after
this at the exchange. AT the end of fort
night they were on friendly terms, and that
which Roger had foreseen took place. Luz
vsrsan proposed to Roger a plan of specula-
ton which required q considerable sum of
money. Roger, for forms sake, affected to
examine into it, and pretended TO hesitate,
but finally consented.
Luversan launched the speculation, which
consisted in the discovery and working Of
petroleum mine in Guatemala. Placed on
tho market in the grandest style, It was
not long before the shares were oil bought
up. The affair bod succeeded so well in its
beginning that Luversan, now having the
means and a certain new consideration in
tho exchange, speculated wildly until, In
tho very height Of Its success, this Guate-
mala petroleum mine was threatened with
disaster so great that 1t would swallow
up all he had in the world and leave him
after so many years bankrupt man And
this is how it happened. Roger had been
TO the banker and said: s
'Sir, on the recommendation OF Tristot you
placed yourself ut my disposal have to ask
you to render me service. Will you do it
without question:
After hearing the service desired, the
banker hesitated. Laroque continued:
"You shall know all later have nothing
hidden from Tristot. am trying to pene-
trnte mystery OF the gravest importance, In
which my honor Is at stake, and will conse-
crate my whole fortune to it IL necessary"
"But II you are mistaken"
81 will then, IL have injured him, repair
bis credit. Now, then, can you ruin Luvcisan
fnanciallyi Here are funds to use to buy all
you can get of the Guatemala petroleum
stock. Buy it and throw it into the market
suddenly, so as to create panic in that stock,
and sustain it until Luversan Is in the most
critical position. In addition to this sum Il
as much moro as you may desire. Use the
money without countingn
The banker then said
"You wish Luversan to apply to you for
aidln
''That is 1t, precisely" answered Roger.
In the meantime, though he saw no more Of
the banker for two weeks, he watched Luver-
san closely. He grew restless and nervous
and pale, and at last came TO Roger one day,
saying desperately, ave are ruined, or least /
am, for you are rich, and this petroleum
affair will not cause you great trouble But
the whole exchange seems to be set against
me. / hide nothing from you, for you are
also interested in this. 1t was my duty to
tell your
"WhatH said Roger, as though astonished
"Such fine prospect Of dividends 80 soon to
have failed nowl l don't see through It
Explain"
Luversan told him OF what we already
know, and then he stopped suddenly in hii
walk and said: tI..
HYou hear, II IS my ruin, II you 60 not help
me. must have money"
Naturally" said Roger coolly
"Can count upon you or notP
"Well," said Roger, "a burnt cat breads
the fire. l am the burnt cat"
Luversan bit his lips till they bled.
"But, | tell you, am lost II you do not
help me-"
Roger did notrefuse absolutely, but replied:
al must reflect. This is a serious matter
and requires large sum, according to what
you say. No matter how rich might be
don't like to lose money. l had confidence |
In you and know little Of those matters, and |
must reflect before / decide to put more
money into what seems to me bottomless
hole"
"But there Is no time for reflection. You
must decide quickly"
seven II do decide TO let you have this |
money, IL would take me three or four days
How much do you wantP
NEARLY million"
"That is q good deal How soon do you
need itf"
ain four days at the latestp
"You can come to my country place, Vile
fAvray, where have rented little house.
hen we shall see"
what Is the number or name Of your
sottagei'
A,-,N A i